‘Pakistanis are moderate’

ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: People in Pakistan have a common tendency to use radical rhetoric when discussing other religions, sects, nations, and people, whereas when  it  comes  down  to  their  practical behavior, the majority  of  Pakistanis  are still  moderate.

Dr David Hansen presented this analysis in a discussion held on his book “Radical Rhetoric-Moderate Behavior” organised by Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies in Islamabad. Academia, intellectuals and civil society representatives also shared their thoughts on the research findings presented in the book.

Mr David said majority of the people in Pakistan wanted to see Islamic legislation (Shariah) actually implemented in some form. For them, he said, Shariah is seen as a system which would provide them equality, justice, and freedoms, which they so far feel they have been denied.

Ms. Shabana Fayyaz, associate professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, said the book presents a real public perspective and reinforces the argument that the majority of Pakistani people are moderate.

In his work Dr. David Hansen explored how respondents perceive Islam, Shariah, and the radical dimension often associated with Islam in Pakistan. — A Reporter

Robbers have a field day

RAWALPINDI, Jan 17: The robbers seemed to have a field day on Tuesday as they struck at four points in the city and took away items of diamond and gold jewellery and valuables worth thousands of rupees.

Ali Zaman Kundi, a resident of Chaklala Scheme III complained to the Airport police that four armed persons made their forced entry to his house and held the inmates hostage at gunpoint. He said that the gunmen made off with a diamond ring and other gold jewellery items.

Similarly, Qaisar Hameed lodged a complaint with the Race Course police saying that two gunmen entered his shop and held him hostage at gunpoint. He said the robbers snatched cash, mobile phone and a large number of perfume bottles and escaped.

The amount of cash taken away by the robbers was yet to be estimated.

In another incident, two robbers entered the house of Chaudhry Mohammad Omer in RA Bazaar area and snatched Rs40,000 cash and gold ornaments from the inmates.

Saeed Pervez, another robbery victim, in his complaint lodged with the Cantonment police said that he was shopping in Saddar when an unidentified person put his gun on his back and took him to a dark place and forced to give up the cash and cell phone.

The gunman snatched Rs24,000 and a mobile phone from him and later disappeared in the dark, he said.— Staff Reporter

House looted

GUJAR KHAN, Jan 17: A house was looted by six armed dacoits in Qazian village late on Monday night, the police said on Tuesday.

The sources said that six armed robbers forced their entry into the house of Mirza Shakoor and held the inmates hostage on gunpoint.

Afterwards, they looted Rs150,000, gold ornaments and five cellphones and escaped. Police registered a case and started investigation. — Correspondent